Google and the EU will develop a pact on a voluntary basis before the new AI rules

Alphabet and the European Commission aim to develop an artificial intelligence (AI) pact involving European and non-European companies before rules are put in place to govern the technology, EU industry chief Thierry Breton said on Wednesday.

Breton previously met with Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google and its parent company Alphabet, in Brussels.

“Sundar and I agree that we cannot afford to wait until AI regulation is actually enforceable, and work together with all AI developers to develop an AI pact on a voluntary basis before the legal deadline,” Breton said in a statement.

He also urged EU countries and EU lawmakers to finalize the details of the Commission’s proposed AI rules before the end of the year. Both groups have yet to start negotiations to iron out their differences.

Concerns are growing about the potential of rapidly developing AI to change the way society and businesses operate. Governments are scrambling to find a way to control the negative consequences without losing benefits or stifling innovation.

EU Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager, who also met with Pichai, stressed the need to act together.

“We need the AI ​​Act as soon as possible. But AI technology evolves at extreme speed. Therefore we need a voluntary agreement on universal rules for AI now,” he said in a tweet.

The European Union and the United States plan to step up cooperation on artificial intelligence to set minimum standards before the legislation takes effect, Vestager said Tuesday.

Commission vice-president Vera Jourova said she raised concerns to Pichai about the spread of pro-Kremlin war propaganda and disinformation about Google’s products and services and the risks of disinformation in EU and national elections.

Pichai has agreed to investigate the problems independent Russian media face in monetizing their content in Russia on YouTube, Jourova said.

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